The Lord Almighty is His Name

October 13th, 2013 dsisler

What a beautiful fall morning! I look forward to the week ahead. The cooler temperatures coax me to so many of my favorite things. Sweaters (without getting too hot), hot cider, candles burning, fall décor, and so much more.

 

But before I move into the upcoming week, I must think on today. The Lord’ Day. I read this verse in the small book of Amos and it reminds me and expresses to all who are reading this who God is and why we should praise His Name.

 

“He who forms the mountains, creates the wind, and reveals his thoughts to man, he who turns dawn to darkness, and treads the high places of the earth—the Lord God Almighty is his name.” (Amos 4:13 – NIV)

 

Yes, these are reasons to praise God, but they are not the only reasons. The list of praise-worthy actions and attributes would fill multiple volumes and because of all these reasons, I will never run out of things to say about my God and Savior.

 

However, I really liked this short verse packed full of a few reasons to worship God today. I pray that you will find enough in that verse to praise Him today too.

 

Today you’ll be reading chapter 3 of Building a Doll House. What a great time we had building Joy’s dollhouse. I hope you enjoy reading about it as well.

 

Building a Doll House: The Foundation – Chapter 3

The most important portion of any building is the foundation, for without a strong, firm foundation, there could be an issue with instability. As we began the process of the dollhouse, Mason wanted this house to be used by our great-grandchildren; therefore he knew it needed to be sturdy. Glue was simply not enough. He needed to use pin nails.

 

Joy's Dollhouse Assembly 016mHowever, the pin nail air gun he had inherited from his father would not do. It didn’t have a safety latch which meant someone could get hurt. The obvious solution? Buy an updated version that would work and would be safe.

 

In our lives we too need a foundation that is strong. One that will hold up when we encounter troubles and trials. One that is built to last. One that not only uses glue, but pin nails. God plus His Holy Spirit plus His Word plus…well you get the picture. The foundation of our faith must be built upon God’s love and grace and forgiveness. Upon Jesus, “a precious cornerstone for a sure foundation.” (1 Peter 2:6 – NIV)

 

Sometimes we rely on what past generations have handed down to us. Right or wrong. What we must realize however, is that our faith must be our own. We must spend time and energy to build this faith for ourselves.

 

We knew that without a firm foundation, the dollhouse would not be able to stand up to the weight we were going to place upon it. In our lives, without the correct foundation: one that is not stable or sturdy, one that cannot withstand the storms of this life, the entire home is susceptible to collapse. Never underestimate the benefits of a firm foundation.

 

Listen to Jesus’ words from Luke 6:47-49 from The Message.

“These words I speak to you are not mere additions to your life, homeowner improvements to your standard of living. They are foundation words, words to build a life on.

 

 If you work the words into your life, you are like a smart carpenter who dug deep and laid the foundation of his house on bedrock. When the river burst its banks and crashed against the house, nothing could shake it; it was built to last. But if you just use my words in Bible studies and don’t work them into your life, you are like a dumb carpenter who built a house but skipped the foundation. When the swollen river came crashing in, it collapsed like a house of cards. It was a total loss.”

 

I pray that we will not be called a dumb carpenter…in the case of the dollhouse or in our daily lives.

 

Grace and peace be yours in abundance,

 

Donna

 

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Powering Through the Flood

October 12th, 2013 dsisler

My husband works in the power industry and he is one of those guys that keeps the lights on. It’s what he has done for years and he really enjoys what he does.

 

Last week the company he works for had a little celebration to thank their employees for all they had done through the recent floods. Through these weeks the employees went the extra mile to make sure everyone was safe. Where electric could be restored, it was done within days. For the rest, electric was restored as it became safe to do it. They really are a great team.

 

Power2One of the things my husband brought home was a t-shirt that reads, “Powering through the flood of 2013.” They most certainly did that. And I am thankful for all the work these men and women put in over the past month.

 

This company provided physical power through electric lines and allowed the people in flooded areas to see by the light they provided. We as Christians, have an inner power. A spiritual power that gives us strength, guidance, assurance, comfort, and so much more when we need it.

 

Our power is the Holy Spirit.

 

So let me just share a little about God’s Holy Spirit that He has provided. I pray that you’ll come to a better understanding of how this precious Gift from God works in our lives.

 

Perhaps the first thing you’ll recall about the Holy Spirit is that He is our Counselor. John 14:16-17a (NIV) tells us, “I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Counselor to be with you forever—the Spirit of truth.” Other translations view this word as Comforter (KJV), Advocate (NIV – 2012), or Helper (NASB). Regardless of the name placed here, we know that we can rely on God’s Spirit within us to be a source of power for us.

 

We also see in this verse that God’s Spirit is also the Spirit of truth. It’s through Him that we are able to judge what truth is. In this world of lies and uncertainties, it is with great power from above that we can determine what is really true.

 

Job 33:4 (NIV) tells us that the Holy Spirit is the Breath of the Almighty. “The Spirit of God has made me; the breath of the Almighty gives me life.” We receive that same life as we allow the Holy Spirit to do His mighty work within us.

 

Nehemiah 9:20 (NIV) calls the Holy Spirit the Good Spirit who instructs.

 

In Ezekiel 36:26-27 (NIV) God gave a new spirit to move us to follow God’s decrees and help us to keep His laws.

 

We also see in Luke 1:35 (NIV), “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. So the holy one to be born will be called the Son of God.”

 

And this is one we might not think of as often, but Romans 8:15 calls God’s Spirit the Spirit of sonship or adoption.

 

And another lesser known characteristic from the Old Testament is the spirit of grace and supplication found in Zechariah 12:10. We see this same characteristic in the passage found in Romans 8:26-27 (NIV). “In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groans that words cannot express. And he who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints in accordance with God’s will.”

 

Another powerful characteristic of God’s Spirit is found in Ephesians 1:17 (NIV). “I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know him better.”

 

God’s Spirit within us provides us with a great source of power that is reliable in every situation, will never grow weary of offering assistance, and can be trusted with our deepest, darkest weaknesses. With God’s Spirit, we can weather the storms of life and know that we will be better people on the other side.

 

If you are a Christian, please don’t neglect this precious Gift God gave to you. He is your greatest source of power.

 

If you haven’t received Jesus as your Savior and would like to receive this great power from above, why not connect with someone you know who can lead you to Jesus? If you don’t know of anyone, please contact me. I’d be happy to share God’s good news with you.

 

God’s Spirit has powered me through the flood on more than one occasion. For that I am thankful. And knowing that He can provide so much more than I ever imagined is a blessing as well. I pray that you have been enlightened too!

 

Grace and peace be yours in abundance,

 

Donna

 

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Good Work!

October 11th, 2013 dsisler

It has been a crazy busy week. Last Friday morning I took off to work with Samaritan’s Purse. Saturday the grandkids were here all day. Sunday was worship day. Monday wasn’t too bad. Tuesday was Joy’s birthday and a little gathering. Wednesday there was Bible Study. Thursday I spoke for the women’s Bible study group at our Frederick campus. And last night we had a church gathering at a local farm.

 

handsBut this wasn’t all that I did. I worked. I fulfilled responsibilities around the house (cleaning, cooking, grocery shopping, etc.). I prepared for Bible study. I touched base with friends and family. I wrote… lot. I kissed babies and children. I engaged with some who are still living with uncertainty after the flood. And I suspect this list could go on and on.

 

Yes, I’ve been busy and yes I am tired. But it’s a good tired. I’ve given to those who have needed me to give and it’s been a worthwhile week.

 

You’ve heard the saying, “a little work never hurt anyone.” Well it’s true. So today, I’m going to share a few passages of Scripture that speak to work. Maybe you’ll find one that is exactly what you need today.

 

“For we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.” (Ephesians 2:10 – NIV)

 

“Speaking the truth in love, we will in all things grow up into him who is the Head, that is, Christ. Form him the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work.” (Ephesians 4:15-16 – NIV)

 

“In all my prayers for all of you, I always pray with joy because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now, being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 1:4-6 – NIV)

 

“Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men.” (Colossians 3:23 – NIV)

 

“Make it your ambition to lead a quiet life, to mind your own business and to work with your hands, just as we told you, so that your daily life may win the respect of outsiders and so that you will not be dependent on anybody.” (1 Thessalonians 4:11-12 – NIV)

 

“All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting, and training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.” (2 Timothy 3:16-17 – NIV)

 

Now let’s get out there and do some good work!

 

Grace and peace be yours in abundance,

 

Donna

 

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A Good Neighbor

October 10th, 2013 dsisler

There’s a cute commercial on television now about a young lad having to give a speech. In his research he looks up all the great speeches of history. In the end, a gal catches his eye and he is off to do research for his next speech.

 

In his research of great speeches, I believe he missed a few. None of Jesus’ speeches are mentioned. Peter’s speech on the day the Church was founded was not mentioned. Paul’s speech to the Athenians was not mentioned. And this list could go on.

 

HomeI however, would love to talk about Paul’s speech in Athens to the Areopagus in Acts 17:16-34. The Greeks were philosophers and “spent their time doing nothing but talking about and listening to the latest ideas.” (Acts 17:21 – NIV) They invited Paul to share with them this new idea.

 

Paul’s speech was brilliant. He knew exactly where to begin…with the altar to an unknown god. Paul then proclaimed to them the good news of Jesus.

 

There is one verse in Paul’s speech that I’d like to pull out. One that perhaps we’ve missed through the years or even overlooked. But with the renewed interest of showing love to our neighbors in our neighborhoods, this verse sticks out.

 

“From one man he made every nation of men, that they should inhabit the whole earth; and he determined the times set for them and the exact places where they should live.” (Acts 17:26 – NIV)

 

God has placed me in my neighborhood for a specific purpose. God has placed you in your neighborhood for a specific purpose. I believe this idea changes everything.

 

It’s my purpose to get to know my neighbors. Know their needs. Meet their needs when possible. Pray for my neighbors. Share God’s message with my neighbors.

 

But when I pull into my garage and put the door down before I even get out of my car, I have no opportunities to meet my neighbors, much less do life with them.

 

Our congregation has been challenged to meet our neighbors and begin praying for them over the next 3 months. I believe that when we pair prayer with the understanding that God placed us in the exact location for His purpose, we have the perfect combination for God to move in mighty ways.

 

Years ago my family lived next to a church which housed men who were sent by the court system to straighten their lives out. At the time, we had young children and I felt in order to keep us all safe, I needed to know the men who lived next door.

 

I sat on my front porch and spoke with these men. I learned their names. I shared conversation. I got to know their stories. In the three years that we lived there, not once did I ever feel threatened or in harm’s way.

 

Why? Because I was a good neighbor.

 

I challenge you to do the same. Meet your neighbors. Write their names down. Begin to pray for them. Don’t lock yourself up in your homes. Get out there. Be available. See what God has in store for your neighborhood.

 

Perhaps this isn’t possible for you. But what you can do is pray. If you don’t know the names of your neighbors, do the best you can. Describe them to God. He knows their names. Allow God’s Spirit to do the praying for you. You can still be a good neighbor without leaving your home.

 

I pray that you’ll come to understand the importance of Jesus’ words when He said, “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind and, ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’” (Luke 10:27 – NIV)

 

Now, let’s get out there and be good neighbors!

 

Grace and peace be yours in abundance,

 

Donna

 

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The Right Protection

October 9th, 2013 dsisler

Since the floods here in Colorado, we’ve had a massive amount of mosquitoes that just cannot seem to be squashed. The spraying has continued, we’ve dipped below freezing on at least one night, but these pesky critters seem to be thriving.

 

I mentioned to my daughter that I needed to get some bug spray before tomorrow night when our church is headed to a local farm for a church gathering. She reminded me to get the right spray this time.

 

sunflower-image-Vintage-GraphicsFairy (2)I got the right spray the last time. At the same time I also purchased sunscreen. I had volunteered to help with the local Vacation Bible School for the church I recently attended. We held it in a local park, so naturally, I needed bug spray.

 

When I arrived at the park with my purchase of bug spray and sunscreen, I sprayed myself with the bug spray…the sun wasn’t an issue. However, as the evening rolled on, mosquitoes seemed to be attracted to me instead of repelled. A few children seemed to have the same issue, so I volunteered my bug spray for them.

 

As it turns out, I was using the sunscreen instead of the bug spray…mosquitoes apparently like sunscreen.

 

The children and I were protected that evening. We just weren’t protected from the most harmful element. We were protected from something that wasn’t a threat.

 

I recently read the account of Samson in Judges 13-16. This man, sent from God was stronger than any Philistine or Hebrew had ever seen. His amazing strength, given to him by God, was used against the Philistine nation to bring revenge for himself and for Israel.

 

Samson was protected by God through his own strength. No man could subdue Samson. No animal stood a chance. However, there seemed to be one thing that Samson was not protected from. His own heart and the lure of Philistine women.

 

He fell in love with Philistine women who used his love toward them against him. They conspired and tricked Samson on numerous occasions until he finally gave in and shared his secrets.

 

After his marriage to a Philistine woman, Samson was nagged by her until he gave up the secret of his riddle (Judges 14:14-18). And then there is the account of Samson and Delilah in Judges 16:4-22 when Delilah also nags Samson into giving her the secret to his strength.

 

Samson was protected from the Philistine armies, but he was not protected from the Philistine women.

 

Each of us have weaknesses that when left unprotected will bring us down as easily as Samson was brought to his knees. When it comes to spiritual battles, we cannot assume that the evil one will not attack us through our weaknesses. So what are we to do?

 

We must prepare for this battle.

 

God has given us His weaponry to fight our spiritual battles. Just as the Spirit of the Lord was with Samson, the Holy Spirit is within us. We must utilize His strength and power to be overcomers in these battles.

 

God has also given us His armor (Ephesians 6:13-17). The belt of truth, the breastplate of righteousness, the gospel of peace, the shield of faith, the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit. These are all weapons we must understand and learn to use.

 

We also find that God has given us direct communication with Him to help us in the battle. In Ephesians 6:18 (NIV) we read, “Pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the saints.” I believe God is telling us that we need to pray and that He wants to be with us through each struggle.

 

God has given us encouragement when times of battle arise. Earlier in Ephesians 6 we find these words. “Be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes.” (Ephesians 6:10-11 – NIV)

 

And finally another encouragement from God is found in 1 Corinthians 10:13 (NIV). “No temptation has seized you except what is common to man. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can stand up under it.” When your battle is against temptation, God is with you. He understands the struggle and He will provide a way of escape. It’s up to you to look for the way out and then to escape.

 

Through God, we have the right protection for the right circumstance. Crawl under the wing of the Almighty’s protection. There you will find safety, security, and ability to win the battle.

 

Grace and peace be yours in abundance,

 

Donna

 

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    "I pray also that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which He has called you, the riches of His glorious inheritance in the saints, and His incomparably great power for us who believe." Ephesians 1:18-19


    I am a devoted wife, mother, and grandmother. I lived in the beautiful state of Colorado for 20 years where I found great inspiration for my novels and devotional writings. Currently living in southwest Ohio.

    I am passionate about helping women find their way to Jesus through Bible study, teaching, speaking, inspirational writing and creative Bible journaling.

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    In September 2012 I went to SE Asia on a service trip. For more information, check out preachitclearly.blogspot.com.

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